Sentinel deliveryman honored for saving victim from house fire

An Orlando Sentinel newspaper deliveryman credited with saving a man's life by pulling him from a burning home last week was given an award Wednesday by the publisher and vice president.

Ronnell Hudson, an independent contractor for the newspaper, was awarded $500 by the Sentinel's vice president of circulation, Bert Ortiz, and Publisher Howard Greenberg, who oversees production of the Sentinel and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

"You went beyond being a Good Samaritan," Greenberg told Hudson. "Most people would not do that. You are a Good Samaritan; a hero."

Hudson was delivering newspapers on his regular route in the south Orange County Meadow Woods community at about 4 a.m. Nov. 20 when he noticed smoke billowing from a home.

As he got closer, he saw flames shooting from the home and saw the front door was open. Hudson hopped out of his vehicle and ran toward the blaze.

"I ran to the front door and it was too hot. I wasn't going to go in," Hudson said. "Then I heard the guy saying, 'Help me! Help me!'"

Hudson said his instincts kicked in. He got low to the ground and took a few steps inside the house, when suddenly the man grabbed ahold of him. Hudson dragged the man to safety.

The man whom Hudson helped pull out of the house, James Succi, had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Succi, 44, told investigators this week he recalled hearing a noise that woke him up and when he stepped out of his bedroom to investigate, he saw a flash — presumably from the gunshot. Succi said he remembered falling to the floor and then waking up in the hospital. He couldn't be reached for comment.

Since his heroic feat, Hudson said his co-workers have taken to calling him "Superman."

"That's awesome," said Hudson's son, Ronnell Jr., who is also a newspaper carrier. "You were already my hero, but now you're a superhero."

Deputies have not identified any suspects in the shooting or the blaze, but the Sheriff's Office said investigators do not think it was a random act. A Chevrolet Impala was stolen from the home and found nearby on Sandy Oaks Lane — also on fire. Firefighters also extinguished that blaze.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.